KABUL: Five aid workers, including two Western women doctors, seized by gunmen last month in northeastern Afghanistan, were freed in an operation, an Afghan official said on Saturday.
The aid workers employed by Swiss-based Medair were making their way to flood stricken parts of Badakhshan province last month when they were taken away.
"It was a successful operation conducted by troops and all five aid workers have been released," said Shamul Rahman Shams, the deputy governor of Badakhshan. He said four hostage-takers were killed in the operation late on Friday.